Serena Williams enters 2026 ladies' singles as a wild card

A 23-time Grand Slam champion, Williams last played a competitive singles match at the US Open in 2022, when she made a thrilling farewell run to the third round, eventually bowing out in three sets to Ajla Tomljanovic.

Now 44, the American has spoken of wanting her two daughters, Olympia and Adira, to see her compete.

And they will have plenty of opportunities to do so at this year’s Championships after Williams added singles to her 2026 Wimbledon itinerary, having already entered the ladies’ doubles alongside sister Venus, also as a wild card.

Williams has played two doubles matches this month in the lead up to The Championships, including a victory at Queen’s alongside Victoria Mboko against No.3 seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.

Williams’ singles record at Wimbledon ranks among the best ever, having won the title seven times and reached the final on four further occasions.

No player has ever won the ladies’ singles as a wild card, but two have in the ladies’ doubles - Serena and Venus themselves, in 2000 and 2002.

Click here to view the full wild card list.